Benilde-St. Margaret’s has emerged as the state’s top-ranked team by remaining undefeated through a brutal schedule. It's a run that includes victories over five ranked teams, and the Red Knights will need one more in their final two games if they hope to finish the regular season with a perfect record.
After a Tuesday meeting with Metro West Conference rival Bloomington Jefferson, Benilde-St. Margaret's visits a Holy Angles team sitting at No. 13 in the rankings. It will be a test for the Red Knights, who need to impose their methodical style of play against the Stars (9-1, 2-0) and their a run-and-gun mentality.
Benilde-St. Margaret's has won seven games by five goals or fewer this season, and sophomore faceoff specialist Jack Budniewski has helped Benilde-St. Margaret’s (11-0, 4-0) rally offensively throughout the season.
Budniewski, who wins faceoffs at a 69.3 percent clip, will be tested by Stars faceoff specialist Spencer Sande, who has won 83 percent of his draws this season and is accustomed to capitalizing in transition.
Another noteworthy matchup is how effective the state’s leading scorer, Jason Kraus (49-29-78), is against the Red Knights' defensive tandem of Jack Rigley and Seamus Foley. The pair have shut down several of the state's top players, including Chanhassen's Cole Grindberg. The senior attackman has 37 goals this season (tied for fourth most in the state), but was held to two in Benilde-St. Margaret's 9-8 victory on May 8.